Latch



Nov. 30 1926. 1,608,51 3

L. J. LEON LATCH Original Filed Jan. 10, 1925 @lll Patented Nev. 30, 1.926.

'LEVICKI J.

LEON, 0F "WEST CI-ICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LATCH.

Original application flied January 10,

This invention relates to a latch construction and consists 1n the matters hereinafter described and claimed and is a division of my copending application Serial No. 1576,`

bled January l0, 1925, for bird cages.7

ln the accompanying drawings Fig. l is a view of a bird-cage equipped with a latch means of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the bottom wall of the cage;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. il is a vertical sectional view on line elm# of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the latch structure on line 5- of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a side view of the operating member of the latch;

Fig. i' is a top plan view of the same; and

8 and 9 are top plan views of the washer and latch member, respectively.

ln Fig. l, I have shown a bird-cage having-a cage body l kand a base 2. The latter has an upright marginal wall 3 and a de tachable bottom wall 4l. The cage body 1 is secured to the base 2 by a ring 5 at the lower end of the body fitting in a channel 6 around the upper edge of the base 2, as shown in Fig. 1l. The outer marginal portion 7 of the bottom wall t is offset considerably below its center portion and extends out-ward under and provides a seat for the lower edge of the base 2, as shown in Fig. 3.

Latch means of my invention is applied to said bottom wall Ll in spaced relation about the periphery of' the same for releasably holding` the bottom wall in the base.

Each latch means comprises a latch member 8 on the inside of the bottom wall 4 and actuating member 9 on the outside of said wall, as shown in Fig. 3. These members el and 9 are connected together for turning through the interposed portion l0 of the wall d, so that on turning the outer member 9 the inner or latch member 8 is swung into or out of a channel ll in the marginal wall 3. The latch member or plate 8 is preferably fiat and has a straight front edge, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, to engage' against the wall 3 in the channel 1l for holding the latch member from accidental turning when engaged with said wall 3.

1When applied to a bird-cage, the outer members 9 are below the bottom wall 4, and, in addition to being actuating members,

i925. Serial N0. 1.578.

Divided and this application filed October 5,

. Serial No. 0,465.

serve as feet for the cage, as shown in Fig. l.

rllhe members 8 and 9 of each latch means are connected together as follows. The member 9 is formed to have a flat body portion l2 at its inner end, and this body portion fits up against the under side of the adjacent wall portion l0 about af hole 13 therein. Said bodyl part l2 has an upstanding annular flange A, which extends upwardly through saidhole 13 and forms a bearing for the member 9 against the edge of said hole as the member is turned.

The height of the flange lll is greater than the gauge or thickness of the wall portion l0, and said flange has two upstanding, oppositely disposed tongues l5, l5, which eX- tend upward through slots 16, 16 in the latch member or plate 8 to connect the latter to the member 9. rl'he upper ends of these tongues are upset or riveted over the member 8, as shown in Fig. 3. A washer 17 is interposed between the member 8 and the wall portion l0 to space the member 8 above the same and prevent scratching of said wall portion as the member 8 is turned.

The construction shown and described eliminates the necessity of a separate rivet and avoids drawing the parts 8 and 9 into cone shapes against the wall as in the case when a separate rivet is used. rlhis is due to the fact that the upper edge of the flange 14 provides a relatively wide and continuous bearing surface for the member S, thereby7 supporting it against inward bending when riveted to the flange by the tongues l5. Moreover, this flange lll supports the plate 8 above and out of Contact with the wall, so that the parts are free to turn without binding in actuating the latch through the member or handle 9. The flange 14 also provides a relatively wide lateral bearing surface for the edge of the opening in the wail and avoids cutting into the metal of the wall in the repeated turning of the latch parts, and provides a firm and permanent settine so that the parts will not readily worlr themselves out of place. The opening made in the wall to accommodate the flange 14 is covered by the plate 8, as shown in Fig. 5, thus making a neat finish and adapting the latch construction for use on ornamental articles. Furthermore, the latch structure and the wall to which it is applied may be made from relatively light sheet material and be sufficiently strong and rigid to accomplish K results `which otherwise would ,re-

quirejinnch heavierniaterial. Y

Whilel have shown and described my iniproved latch means as applied to bird-cages, it may be used forlotli'erdevices. "hloreo'ver, the details of structure shown and described may be vaiiouslj;7 Changed and modified Without. depaijting :from the spirit and scope of "my invention.

l claim as my invention:

ll. Theeoinbination With-a Wall,..of latch -ineans v earriedy thereby and comprising a latchmeniber-on one sideot the Wall/and an -V aetnatingnienaber .onthe Vother side; of. said vnfavllfeiie osaidnneeinhers beinglprovided Wit an vaninilarlfianger extendingthrongh a hollei-n the Wall andengaging thev -elgeof the eine thron hout .the hickness or" the 'f Wall, thev other rn bei' being.. connected- With TIT ' I.ange ,sothat `the latch .member may turned by theaetuas; 4Ag.ine-mber.

-12. The combi-nation with a \Wall,;ofg'lateh Vmeans, comprising a latchaneniber-on one vside vof the Wall andfan..actuating:inenibei' ontheother side of said Walhfone of said ,..ineinb rs having an annnlarlange. extending through a.l holev in the wall Witlrthe .flange engaging the edge-of the hole throughout (the i539 Widthofthewall, saidfange havingtongnes meinbernrcnikuglil and: snpport edby said projecting beyond the Wall vand extending thronghfslots in the vother ineinbeijvto conneet the members together so that the latch nieniber may be turned by the actuating member.

3. The Combination With a Wall, of latch means carried vthereby and comprising a latch member on one sideotthe Wall. and an actuating member on the other side of said Wall, one of said members being provided `With anv annnlarlange extending through a holeinthe Wall and engagingtheedgeof the saine throughout .the thickness `r vo' the kwall, the othernnember -beingconneeted with theiirst rneinbentlirongh saidfiiange` so ,that the latch rneinher maybe turned by. the. aetnating .,meinber, and Washer .between f the latch meinben andV wall' for P'holdinglthevl atch abeipout .get ,contact with, saidfwall.

The combination v'vithseparable'" walls, .olatch'means .eerrieclby one of said rWalls and having latch .and .actuating.melnberszon ...opposite sdesof sai-cl walhandconneeted to# gelhel` for turning Vthrough said Walh. said latch .ineinbei having. a Straight-@11d edge t0 engage the other Wall 'for'holding said .latch .member :against accidental.. turning.

ln testimony whereof l aihx naysignatnre y,this ,lstdaycof October,` :1925.

, LEWI @KI ,'J. f LEON. 

